Cleveland Public Library Board of Trustees

Cleveland Public Library (CPL) is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees. Members are appointed for seven-year terms by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Board of Education. 

All of the current trustees were present at this meeting:

• Maritza Rodriguez, president
• Anthony Parker, vice president
• Thomas Corrigan
• Alice Butts
• Jasmine Fryer
• Melanie Shakarian
• Melaak Rashid

Felton Thomas Jr., executive director and CEO, was also present. 

Background

Board meetings are normally held the third Thursday of the month at noon on the 10th floor of the Louis Stokes Wing, as happened today. Outside of the conference room are large windows offering a panoramic view of downtown Cleveland. Two display stands provide information about the public library system and the various buildings seen from that vantage point. On the wall just to the left of the room entrance are plaques with the photos, names and appointment dates of the current trustees.  

The conference room has brightly colored paisley carpeting, and the approximately 30 seats available for the audience were full except for three or four chairs. Board members sit at a long kidney-shaped table, in padded seats that have their nameplate attached to the back. Nameplates were also clearly displayed in front of each member. The volume was appropriate to hear most of the speakers. The members’ names and photos were displayed on a large screen to the left of the room. The screen also showed the board members and speakers at the mic as the meeting was being recorded live.

Shelving is placed around the perimeter of the room along with single chairs. Other public seats were arranged in rows of four and five, with a single aisle in between. As the meeting went on, it was clear that many audience members know each other, and some were called by the board to speak. 

The agenda was made available on the website, with detailed links. A more concise version was available on the clerk’s desk at the meeting. 

Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m. She announced that the board meeting room has now been officially renamed for trustee Corrigan, which resulted in applause. In fact, this meeting was positive and friendly, with applause being shared on several occasions as people were recognized for their participation in events that were being discussed. 

Approval Of The Minutes

Minutes were approved for the June 17 regular board meeting and the Aug. 23 board work session. 

President’s Report

• Roles of board members have been updated to assign trustees to specific library branches
• Members were provided  names and contact information for branch managers
• The idea is for  members to be “transparent and visible”
• Rodriguez said her favorite event was held Sept. 3. Their partnership with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame  brought Pat Benatar and her husband to Cleveland
• She asked other board members to share summer activities they enjoyed. Several commented on the partnership with Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  

[Documenters note: My post-meeting research determined it was the Jurassic Jam held on Aug. 9 as the ending celebration for the Cleveland Reads program. 

• Shakarian: “Terrific” collaboration, line of people waiting to get in
• Rashid: “Such a beautiful mix” of ages, people from different places, great vendor partners, “community centric”
• Corrigan: Heard at least 10 different languages being spoken
• Someone from audience: More than 3,000 participants

• Corrigan: Superhero Homecoming
  • Post-meeting research – July 12 event
  • Death of Superman actor (George Reeves) was “my first dealing with what suicide was” 
  • “As a kid, superheroes are important for how you handle crises”

Director’s Report

• Welcomed back Rodgriguez for seven more years; happy to have her back, kudos to school district for agreeing
• Talked about the new Welcome card so people without permanent residence can check out materials:
  • Showed flyer. Rodriguez asked if it will be in various languages –  at least eight languages and Braille
  • Flyer just introduced to Global Cleveland as part of Welcoming Week
• Recognition from Sen. John Husted for partnership with Library of Congress. It is one of only two libraries in country, project not yet named
• Each month, call up someone to tell their story:
  • Shakarian: Helping to advocate at Statehouse; her job as “mischief maker” to “collect stories from our patrons about how much they love the library and why”
  • Shared video from a family with two children using the library  
  • “Your Story Starts Here” –  Will remain online, will send link to trustees later

Communications

Thomas read an email from Peyton Voline, a 26-year-old man from Cincinnati who expressed how much the Superman event meant to him. 

Finance Committee Report

All of the resolutions/exhibits listed from this committee were moved, seconded and passed by unanimous affirmation through a voice vote from each trustee. Corrigan read each resolution and the corresponding statute from the Ohio Revised Code. A summary follows, see the agenda for specific details. 

1. Accept gifts for the months of June, July and August — agenda shows itemization 
2. Accept Treu-Mart Fund of the Cleveland Foundation for On the Road to Reading: $15,000 for early literacy resources
3. Accept grant from CPL Foundation for Senior Digital Literacy Programming: $10,000 from AT&T to help offset cost of Golden Gala event 
4. Accept TechCred program grant from Ohio Department of Development: $25,000 reimbursement for heating and air conditioning needs
5. Accept state and local cybersecurity grant from Ohio Emergency Management Agency: $20,000 for Microsoft 365 protection
6. Ratify acceptance of grant from Ohio Arts Council – $20,793 for library dance lab via ArtsNEXT, which provides opportunities for dance in underserved communities
7. Ratify and approve purchase of insurance coverage: $577,844 for various forms of liability, see agenda for details; Corrigan said it was a very small increase in premiums
8. Ratify agreement with Bialosky and Partners for Fleet Branch project: $648,500
9. Announcing construction manager at risk for Fleet Branch project: $868,672 for RL Hill Management Inc.  for best value, not lowest bid
10. Authorize amendment to agreement for design services for Walz Branch and authorize budget reallocations: Additional expenditure of $101,900
11. Authorize fourth amendment to agreement with Moody Nolan Inc. for design services. Finance Committee approved increase in fee of $21,500
12. Advance cash from general fund to Public Art Fund and CPL center for media fund. Using Mandel Foundation grants to advance $20,793 to Public Art Fund and $2,015,512 to CPL Center for media fund
13. Authorize agreement for installation of boilers at South Brooklyn branch: $150,480 to Calvary Mechanical; Corrigan asked about age of boilers, two members from audience believed they are original to the building and installed in 1979
14. Seventh amendment to the year 2025 Appropriation: part of housekeeping resolution that is done monthly

Corrigan gave the reports from the committee, saying they are submitted for “transparent review and knowledge” with no vote needed. Summaries are below. See agenda for specifics.

1. Fiscal officer’s reports June, July, August
2. Reports on investments June, July, August 
3. Conference and travel expenditures June, July, August
4. Reports on all vendor expenditures June, July, August
5. Reports on expenditures made from the owner’s contingency funds for MLK Jr., Rockport, Glenville and Walz
6. Reports on expenditures made from the owner’s contingency fund for the high-density shelving project June, July, August
7. Reports on expenditures made from the owner’s contingency fund for the new main library staff breakroom project for June, July, August
8. Reports on expenditures made from the owner’s contingency fund for TechCentral renovation project June, July, August
9. Reports on expenditures made from the owner’s contingency fund for Eastman Reading Garden lighting project 
10. Fees paid for legal and consulting services for the period 4/01/25-6/30/25

Public Comment

Camilo Villa expressed concern about the private company that is being contracted to provide security along with the in-house staff. He was wearing a union shirt from SEIU 1 and said that the security company has high turnover rates and pays $13 per hour, which is an “unconscionable poverty wage in 2025.” He had come to a trustee meeting around three years ago for this same issue and is “calling on the library to immediately address the poverty wages and anti-union practices of Royce Security” while understanding the library’s need to supplement security services.  

Valerie Johnson also wore an SEIU 1 t-shirt and said she is a security guard but not with Royce. She loves the library and has gone with her three children to the downtown branch and the branch on East 152nd Street and St. Clair Avenue. She said many kids feel a “sense of home, and it’s a sense of learning,” and for some of them, the “superheroes are the security guards.” She said she knows that her children did well because of their feeling of safety and knowing the security guards. She said the current company shows that they don’t care and that “$13 an hour is not a livable wage.” 

After these citizens spoke, there was discussion about the issue:

• Thomas: Said he did promise 2 ½ years ago to only have library security; working toward it, not there yet, should have come back to issue
• Rodriguez: Yes, communication could be improved, but high turnover is an issue
• A man came to the microphone but did not give his name, although it was clear that the board knew him. He gave answers to various questions:
  • More than 80% of security are library employees
  • 68 is full staff, have high 50’s in-house, aiming for 100%
  • Butts asked about wages: A safety aide earns $18.50 per hour and a  security officer earns $20 per hour
  • They do provide support to contract hirees
  • Parker asked when bids were going out. The goal is to replace Royce, extension will terminate at year’s end

• Corrigan: Some turnover due to gaining good experience then leave for better opportunities
• Thomas: Is the current contractor the best choice?
• Shakarian: Perhaps union people can make suggestions for other companies to consider bidding

Steven came to the microphone and was familiar with board members. He asked if the current Fleet branch library would be open during construction of the new one, and it wasn’t clear who responded, but the person said “probably not.” He then read from a paper, saying that he saw a sticker saying to support the middle class, fight billionaires and vote Communist. He said that “yes, we do have a problem with rich people and greed over here, but neocommunism is not the solution to it.” He gave examples of rights that are taken away and freedoms that would be lost and to “support America!”

Human Resources Committee Report

Exhibit 16 – Retirement Recognition Citation

Shakarian listed names, job titles and years of service for four retirees. The board voted to send the citations to three of them who were not present at this meeting. William Chase was present and received a nice round of applause, his citation, a retiree badge and pin and a photo with Shakarian and Thomas. Following tradition, he sat in the president’s chair and banged the gavel. A man came to the microphone to give compliments, saying that William was always respectful and helpful to everyone coming into the Special Collections department. He called him an “expert in boxing” and said that his knowledge will be missed, ending with “thank you from all of us.” 

Details on the following reports/exhibits may be found in the agenda:

• Exhibit 15: Regular employment report
• Report K: Report on paid sick time
• Report L: Employee demographics
• Report M: Insurance summary report

Community Services Committee Report

• The monthly activity report is in graph form in the agenda. 
• Building status update:
  • John came to the microphone, but I was not able to clearly hear him
  • A piece of glass was needed somewhere 
  • Retrofitting light fixtures 
  • Contractor onsite for the Walz project, dealing with various issues 
• Advocacy taskforce update:
  • A woman came to the microphone; she did not give her name, though she was known to the trustees
  • Evaluating state budget and property tax reform to identify funding opportunities
  • Advisory group developed for NEO Broadcast archives: met two or three times, scheduling quarterly meeting

• Foundation update:
  • Same person at the microphone who gave the advocacy taskforce update 
  • $4.4 million to date, including Mandel grant
  • Black White and ReAD event on Oct. 9 with Amanda Knox
  • Contributed $35,000 to First Signs of Reading conference next month, invited Gov. Mike DeWine (I could not find details for this event)
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) Update
  • Ashley came to the microphone
  • Northeast Ohio Coalition of Disability Organizations march for access at Public Square on Sept. 20
  • Sept. 25 event on the impact and legacy of American Indian boarding schools (I could not find details for this event)
  • Sept. 27 Hispanic Heritage kickoff event at Fulton Branch with food, DJ, entertainment

Old Business/New Business

Rodriguez said there was no old or new business. She went back to Public Comment and said that two items had been electronically submitted. One referred to a patron disputing their removal from a library for sleeping. That is a violation of the code of conduct, and the issue was resolved amicably with the director of safety and protective services reaching out and the person is now welcome to return. The second was to thank the facilities team for paving the West Park campus parking lot.

At this point, Steven spoke from the back of the room with the suggestion to have Coke/Pepsi machines in the library to help people stay awake and that caffeine would help. Rodriquez told him that soda is not healthy and that he should drink water. Corrigan said that he had been removed from the special collections area of the library in law school twice for sleeping, which made many people laugh.  

Executive Session 

The trustees left the room to meet on personnel matters from 1:13 to 2:26. Upon their return, the meeting was adjourned.

These notes are by Documenter Laurie Redmon.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org  with “Correction Request” in the subject line.